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SAES will present at the 2014 Undersea Defense Technology (UDT) Conference a paper about ASW systems solutions that meet with the new necessities of ASW missions.

The emergence of new military technologies has dramatically affected the traditional concept of operation of anti submarine warfare missions (ASW). Modern submarines have technological advances in enhanced propulsion, quieting techniques and coordinated weapons technologies. In addition to this, new geopolitical scenarios in the world constrain naval forces involved in the ASW missions to the littoral waters.

In the 21st century, ASW missions require:

  • To deploy the forces in a secure Friendly Maneuver Area to enhance their security close to the coast
  • To prioritise the use of smaller and faster combat ships (OPV, corvettes, FAC) able to share tactical and intelligence information exploiting the benefits of a Network Centric Warfare (NCW)
  • To use unmanned vehicles (UAV or USV) to deploy sonobuoys and relay the acoustic information either to combat ships or ground stations
  • To have the ability to make quick and agile centralized decisions in order to drive all the deployed forces as if they were a single and powerful weapon

In this new ASW context, and with the objective to continue at the forefront of the ASW systems, in the year 2004 SAES assumed the challenge of design and manufacturing a system capable to participate in these new ASW missions: Sensor Data Link (SDL) system.

SDL – sensor data link

The SDL system is a new anti-submarine warfare solution providing a unique, fully integrated ship/air weapon system, initially designed to enhance and extend the ship acoustic sensors. The SDL system receives controls and monitors remotely the acoustic and tactical information from deployed resources.

SDL is a two segment system – AS (Airborne Segment) & SS (Surface Segment):

  • SDL-AS is a distant and elevated platform for sensors. The SDL-AS provides remote ASW capabilities without the need of a dedicated sensor
  • SDL-SS controls and monitors SDL-AS operation from the Surface Segment. Through the data link (STANAG 7085 compliance), acoustic and non-acoustic sensors (RADAR & FLIR) and tactical data are downlinked and interchanged with other Surface Segments either through a Line Of Sight (LOS) or through Satellite (SATCOM)

Additionally the SDL system collaborates in a network centric warfare (NCW), allowing the centralisation of analysis and taking decisions, providing:

  • Communication Surface-To-Helo (S2H): from the SDL-AS tactical, intelligence and acoustic information is transmitted through a data link (STANAG 7085) towards the SDL-SS.
  • Communication Surface-To-Surface (S2S): tactical and intelligence information is interchanged between two SDL-SS platforms.
  • Communication Surface-To-Satellite (S2SAT): tactical and intelligence information is interchanged beyond LOS (line of sight) capability through a satellite network.

SDL acoustic capabilities covers from sonobuoys acoustic signal processing (analog and digital sonobuoys), on-board recording, FAST post-mission acoustic signal analysis (FTAS) and control of deployed sonobuoys through UHF commands, among others.

SDL small footprint, less weight and low maintenance (LRU approach) allow the installation in small combats ships like OPV, FAC or Patrols (new construction or existing), getting them of powerful ASW capabilities closest to coast line in accordance with new ASW scenario.

The paper "ASW solutions for the modern ASW framework" will be explained in depth by Ignacio Gutiérrez Suanzes (head of ASW line of Business) in the UDT 2014 Exhibiting and Conference, on Thursday 12th Jun at 15:00 hrs (Conference "Underwater Communication", Session "ASW Solutions for the Modern ASW framework").

Also, for additional information, please visit the web page: www.electronica-submarina.com.